Storm-simulating device



Nov. 5, 1929.

F. SCHALKENBACH STORM SIMULATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 21, 1927 flmlrclzalkenaclz, abtom Patented Nov. 5, 1929 FRANK SCHALKENBACH, OF NEW YORK, N, Y.

STOBM-SIMULATING DEVICE Application filed October 21, 1927. Serial No. 227,695.

The present invention relates to devices which produce sounds of diiferent characters in imitation of other natural or artificial sounds and deals particularly with storm simulating devices. The construction embodying the present invention, and by means of which the noises of a storm are imitated, has been carefully designed to provide a means for producing every component sound which contributes to the final effect of the storm.

Having ascertained the individual sounds which predominate to give the natural effect, an object of this invention is to provide an apparatus capable of reproducing or imitating such individual sounds and producing an ultimate sound of which such individual sounds are component, parts, the ultimate sound being an imitation of a characteristic natural storm.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character which is controlled by a single operator, the

individual sounds being produced by mecha ,nism carried upon a supporting structure and actuated at the proper times by the operator.

lVith the problem in mind of producing a resultant sound having the exact characteristics of a natural storm, the following apparatus has been designed, and a detailed description thereof will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation, partly broken away, showing the storm simulating device of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view, partly broken away, showing the device of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a section showing the manner in which shot are discharged from the box at the top of the device into the upper channel.

Fig. 4 is a view in section showing the manner in which shot are discharged from one channel into another. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 1 and lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

50 Fig. 7

is a view in section, partly broken away, showing the valve mechanism controlling the discharge of air from the wind box.

In the above drawings, a indicates a supporting frame which may be of any suitable construction adapted to carry the elements de scribed hereinafter as producing sounds in initiation of certain sounds which are produced in natural storms. At one side of the frame downwardly drooping supporting arms Z) are secured, these arms serving to carry a steel sheet 6' for producing the sounds to imitate thunder. This sheet is secured to the arms Z) by means of links 6 which enable the sheet to vibrate with as little damping from the arms I) as possible. To produce the desired noises the sheet is either struck by a muflled lever or drum stick, or shaken by hand. I

The top of the frame a carries a box or receptacle 0 to receive a supply of shot. An aperture 0 is provided at one end of the box for thedischarge of the shot and a shutter 0 pivoted to the box at 0 controls the discharge of the shot from the box. Handle 0 is provided to control the action of the shutter a? and spring c serves to hold the shutter in eitheropened or closed position. When the shutter is closed, the spring exerts a closing folce on one side of the pivot 0 and when open the spring exerts a force on the other side of the pivot to maintain the shutter in such open position. A spring finger 0 secured to one side of the box, is provided with a handle 0 extending through the other side thereof- This handle may be moved back and forth to p rake the shotat the opening in the box and clear such opening of any obstructions which might exist.

An aperture a is formed in the upper portion of the supporting frame a and permits the shot, which falls from the box 0, to drop upon an upper channel all. Channel d is provided with a drum skin (Z and the shot falling upon this drum skin and rolling down its length produces a muflled sound in imitation falling from the channel (Z into 6 may imainge against a suitable baffle (Z covered with drum skin similarly to the channel (Z and its continued movement down channel 6 produces sounds which imitate the sound of rain falling on wooden objects and the like. The channel 6, at its lower end, is pivoted to the lower channel f, as indicated at the channel 7 being former. with a thin metal bottom f. The effect of the shot passing along this channel produces a sound whichis similar to that of rain falling upon a tin roof. A battle 6 similar to baffle (Z may be provided to guide the shot in falling from channel 6 into channel f, and the shot are discharged from channel 7 into a. box a secured to the supporting frame why a bracket a If desired a baffle a may be provided against which the shot impinge as they fall from channel 7 into the box.

Positioning rods (4 are secured to the top of the supporting frame and provided with slots (4 which receivestuds (Z 6 and f secured to the respective channels (Z, c, and 7'. lVing nuts are threaded on these projecting studs and serve to secure the channels in desired positions so that the inclination thereof may be varied to change the rate at which the shotis cascaded from top to bottom and the character of the sound produced. The greater the inclination of a channel, the more violent will be the sound produced by the shot passing down its length.

As the operator sits at the frame, he places his feet upon bellows g and by pumping them, forces air through pipes 9 into wind box 9 This box is carried upon the upper portion of the frame a and is provided with fixtures to imitate the howling of the wind and other storm sounds. .By varyin the pumping of the bellows the intensity or the sounds may be increased or diminished as desired.

In the present construction, a whistle g is provided which imitates the crying of a baby and the operation thereof is controlled by a valve 9 To imitate the howling of the wind, a nozzle formed on the wind box g directs wind against a hollow copper ball The blast of wind against this ball is controlled by a valve 9 the valves g* and g being shown in greater detail in Figure T A vertical standard g is secured to the wind box g and carries the ball 9 through a swivel connection By means of this connection, the ball may be turned on a horizontal or vertical axis to vary its position with respect to nozzle 9 and in this manner the blast of wind against aperture in the ball is caused to produce notes of varying pitch or character.

The valves for controlling the flow of air to the crying or wind imitating devices are shown in '2', wherein plug valve, one of which is shown at 72 are seated at h against the pipes leading to the instruments, the

means of leaf springs 7L2.

valves being maintained in this position by A pin 7?, carried upon lever 7L engages the spring [L2 to unseat the valve upon proper movement of the lever. This lever is pivotally mounted at ]L5 upon the wind box 9 and its depending arm A is engaged by a cam ]L7 to move it outwardly. This movement opens the valve and permits air to flow to the desired instrument. The cam [L7 is mounted upon shaft 72, which is carried by the wind box and is provided with an operating lever h".

I will be seen that the operator, sitting in front of the apparatus, and working the bellows may imitate the various sounds of the wind, thunder, and rain which are found in natural storms. The entire mechanism is designed to permit this operation to be effected by a single person and the elements are constructed to permit a desired variation in the character of the sounds produced to produce imitations of storms of varying character.

I claim as my invention:

1. A storm simulatin device comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of channels carried by the frame, means to position the channels to enable objects to cascade from one to tner in traversing the lengths thereof, a container carried above the channels, means to control the dischargeof objects therefrom, and means forming the bottom of the channels to cause each to produce a distinctive sound as the objects roll along their lengths.

2. A storm simulating device comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of channels carried by the frame, variable means to position the channels to enable objects to cascade from one to another in traversing the lengths hereof, a container carried above the channels, means to control the discharge of objects tl erefrom, and means forming the bottom of the channels to cause each to pro duce a distinctive sound as the objects roll along their-lengths.

3. A storm simulating device comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of channels carried, by the frame, means to position the channels to enable objects to cascade from one to another in traversingthe lengths thereof, one of the channels including a drum skin over which the objects roll, another channel, including a wooden surface, a third channehincluding a metal surface, a container carried above the channels, and means to control'the discharge of objects therefrom.

i. A storm simulating device comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of channels carried by the frame, means to position the channels to enable objects to cascade from one to another in traversing the lengths thereof, one of the channels including a drum skin over which the objects roll, another channel,

FRANK SCHALKENBACH. 

